Ford_News
09-09-2013, 04:41 PM
Filed under: Hybrid (http://www.autoblog.com/category/hybrids/), Technology (http://www.autoblog.com/category/tech/), Crossover (http://www.autoblog.com/category/crossovers-cuvs/), Ford (http://www.autoblog.com/ford/), Electric (http://www.autoblog.com/category/electric/)
http://o.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/GLOB/crop/1263x849+8+0/resize/628x417!/format/jpg/quality/85/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/adam/73f021832bd773845b91514825ee3633/01-2013-ford-c-max-hybrid-fd.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2013-ford-c-max-hybrid-first-drive/)
Despite the ballyhoo that accompanied Ford's lowering of the C-Max fuel economy figures (http://green.autoblog.com/2013/08/15/ford-will-drop-mpg-rating-for-c-max-hybrid/), the Blue Oval is still seeing strong demand for the five-seat MPV, as Automotive News (http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130908/RETAIL03/309099957/c-max-sales-holding-up-despite-revision-of-mpg#axzz2eJKiYU8Y) reports. Speaking to marketing boss Jim Farley, AN says that the controversy surrounding the C-Max's fuel economy figures won't force Ford to change its marketing strategy.
Ford (http://www.autoblog.com/ford/) lowered the fuel economy rating of the C-Max (http://www.autoblog.com/ford/c-max/) after public outcry (http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/26/ford-owners-sue-mpg-hybrids/) and legal action (http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/ford-hit-with-another-mpg-lawsuit-claim/) by customers that were unable to reach the 47 miles per gallon promised by the window sticker. The new ratings were dropped about a month ago (http://green.autoblog.com/2013/08/15/ford-c-max-hybrid-rerated-at-43-mpg-owners-offered-rebates/) to 45 mpg on the freeway and 40 mpg in the city. Ford offered rebates for current C-Max owners, with $550 going to those that bought their car and $325 to lessees. The issue, says Ford, stemmed from testing standards that allowed the automaker to base the C-Max's fuel economy on the Fusion Hybrid (http://www.autoblog.com/ford/fusion/), because they use identical powertrains. The C-Max's less aerodynamic shape wasn't taken into account, though.
Whether Ford's PR team handled the crises perfectly or people just aren't that bothered by a four-mpg drop in combined ratings, demand remains strong for the C-Max among consumers. Ford moved 3,000 units in August, which was a 12-percent jump over July sales. Meanwhile, consumer demand through third-party shopping websites remains strong as well, according to Autometrics, a data analysis company that spoke with Automotive News. While the long-term effects of the adjustments remain unknown, the C-Max appears to have fared well in the near term.Ford C-Max sales hold steady despite fuel economy fracas (http://www.autoblog.com/2013/09/09/ford-c-max-sales-good-despite-reduced-mpg/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com) on Mon, 09 Sep 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.mnfords.com/rss-term-of-use/).
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Despite the ballyhoo that accompanied Ford's lowering of the C-Max fuel economy figures (http://green.autoblog.com/2013/08/15/ford-will-drop-mpg-rating-for-c-max-hybrid/), the Blue Oval is still seeing strong demand for the five-seat MPV, as Automotive News (http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130908/RETAIL03/309099957/c-max-sales-holding-up-despite-revision-of-mpg#axzz2eJKiYU8Y) reports. Speaking to marketing boss Jim Farley, AN says that the controversy surrounding the C-Max's fuel economy figures won't force Ford to change its marketing strategy.
Ford (http://www.autoblog.com/ford/) lowered the fuel economy rating of the C-Max (http://www.autoblog.com/ford/c-max/) after public outcry (http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/26/ford-owners-sue-mpg-hybrids/) and legal action (http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/ford-hit-with-another-mpg-lawsuit-claim/) by customers that were unable to reach the 47 miles per gallon promised by the window sticker. The new ratings were dropped about a month ago (http://green.autoblog.com/2013/08/15/ford-c-max-hybrid-rerated-at-43-mpg-owners-offered-rebates/) to 45 mpg on the freeway and 40 mpg in the city. Ford offered rebates for current C-Max owners, with $550 going to those that bought their car and $325 to lessees. The issue, says Ford, stemmed from testing standards that allowed the automaker to base the C-Max's fuel economy on the Fusion Hybrid (http://www.autoblog.com/ford/fusion/), because they use identical powertrains. The C-Max's less aerodynamic shape wasn't taken into account, though.
Whether Ford's PR team handled the crises perfectly or people just aren't that bothered by a four-mpg drop in combined ratings, demand remains strong for the C-Max among consumers. Ford moved 3,000 units in August, which was a 12-percent jump over July sales. Meanwhile, consumer demand through third-party shopping websites remains strong as well, according to Autometrics, a data analysis company that spoke with Automotive News. While the long-term effects of the adjustments remain unknown, the C-Max appears to have fared well in the near term.Ford C-Max sales hold steady despite fuel economy fracas (http://www.autoblog.com/2013/09/09/ford-c-max-sales-good-despite-reduced-mpg/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com) on Mon, 09 Sep 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.mnfords.com/rss-term-of-use/).
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